Ganesha is the Hindu elephant-headed deity who removes obstacles and is thus the god of success; in this sense, he is a god of great importance for everyday existence. He was venerated first, before the worshipper turned to the other gods, in order to remove potential obstacles between the worshipper and the divine. In Southeast Asia, Ganesha has a more independent status than in India; his images were often housed in separate temples as primary icons of worship. Here, Ganesha is shown wearing a short wraparound skirt (sampot), the front end of which falls down the center in a series of flaring folds characteristic of the Prasat Andet style.